Criminal Trials, Hearings Statute of limitations for MA

[hk2004]

Does anyone know what the statute of limitations for crimes in Massachusetts are or where I can find them. I have been searching though the MGL online and I cannot locate them.

 

[ldudlyd]

I did the same and got the same result! Nothing. Why is there a problem?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Originally posted by hk2004
Does anyone know what the statute of limitations for crimes in Massachusetts are or where I can find them. I have been searching though the MGL online and I cannot locate them.

I'm sure the laws are somewhere online but it's a lot easier trying to find info on a specific topic. Sometimes what you seek is a subset of another category that isn't spelled out explicitly.

 

[hk2004]

True, I'm sure that it is there somewhere, but I have spent hours searching for it and I cannot find them. I was hoping a MA attorney or other knowledgeable individual could point me in the right direction.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Originally posted by hk2004
True, I'm sure that it is there somewhere, but I have spent hours searching for it and I cannot find them. I was hoping a MA attorney or other knowledgeable individual could point me in the right direction.

Usually they are in the state law, for example in New York they are in the New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR.) I believe you can find them here:

GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS
CHAPTER 260. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.

 

[ldudlyd]

Note that ch. 260 seems to deal with CIVIL but not CRIMINAL matters.

After a very prolonged google search I found the following:

http://www.sttop.org/legislation2.htm

AN ACT AMENDING THE CRIMINAL STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Section 1. SS63 of c.277 of the General Laws, as amended by St. 1987, c489, shall be amended as follows:

Using that as a clue I found:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/277-63.HTM

PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES CHAPTER 277. INDICTMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE TRIAL LIMITATION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS Chapter 277: Section 63 General provisions

One wonders why this seems obscured from public access!

 

[hk2004]

Thanks ldudlyd very much.

I find it odd that this is buried the way it is.